A rising number of forest destruction cases in the central highlands province of Lam Dong have recently been reported by local media. The problem has mostly occurred in some neighbouring districts of Dalat City including Duc Trong, Lam Ha, and Bao Lam where land prices have been sharply increasing.
Since the beginning of 2022, authorities in Lam Ha District have dealt with three cases in which loggers destroyed local forests to take the land.
"In the latest case we found a group destroying a pine forest in Nam Ban Town," a representative of the Lam Ha District Forest Ranger Department said. "After clearing the trees on an area of 1,300 square metres, loggers were starting ground filling work when we arrived. They arranged teams to watch for local authorities and fled before we arrived."
According to deputy director of Tan Mai Company, Vuong Hoang Tru, there has been increased destruction of forested land around Dalat City since land prices are rising.
"The problem has been reported in Ta Nung Commune and Ward 7," he said. "Forest land has been illegally used for construction and trading."
The Government Office on March 31 issued a document signed by Deputy PM Le Van Thanh to the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, asking them to deal with forest destruction and illegal forest land occupation in Lam Dong Province.
The Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee has also asked district authorities to intensify forest protection and strictly punish illegal loggers in their areas. Local districts have also been asked to reclaim the forest land for replanting trees in the rainy season of 2022
